The Independent National Electoral Commission will meet next week to determine its position on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ticket following a court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President, David Mark.
INEC, however, said it would not take any decision on the ADC leadership crisis until it obtains and examines the certified true copy of the Federal High Court judgment.
The commission’s position followed Thursday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the Mark-led caretaker committee and invalidated decisions taken under its leadership, including the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its candidate for the 2027 general election.
According to Punch, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission needed to study the court’s decision before determining its next line of action.
“We can’t take a position until we see the judgment ourselves. We have to get the certified true copy because we don’t take decisions or reports of what the court said based on reports because the reports could be wrong,” Haruna said.
He added that the commission would deliberate on the matter at its meeting next week.
“Well, this one is very straightforward. Even then, we are all here till next week when the commission meets. We will have to meet over it,” he stated.
Haruna also said INEC would comply with any further court order if the Mark-led faction appealed the judgment and secured an injunction restraining its enforcement.
“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgment,” he added.
In the judgment, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker committee, holding that the process violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The ruling followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Gombe had challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
He argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
The plaintiff consequently asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Upholding the suit, Justice Lifu invalidated the process that produced the caretaker committee and the party’s presidential primary that returned Atiku as its flag bearer for the 2027 election.
The court also nullified Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 general election.
Furthermore, it directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.
The judgment has thrown the opposition party’s leadership and preparations for the 2027 general election into uncertainty, with INEC awaiting the certified court documents before deciding its next move.
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